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Andrew Marin is President and Founder of The Marin Foundation (www.themarinfoundation.org). He is the award winning author of two books and a DVD curriculum, and his new book 86%: Groundbreaking Research on the LGBT Community and Religion, will release November 2015. Since 2010 Andrew has been asked by the United Nations to advise their various agencies on issues of bridging opposing worldviews, civic engagement, and theological aspects of reconciliation. He is currently based St. Andrews, Scotland where he is researching and teaching at the University of St. Andrews, earning his PhD in Constructive Theology and Ethics. His research focuses on the theology and praxis of social reconciliation between victims and their perpetrators. Andrew is married to Brenda, and you can find him elsewhere on Twitter (@Andrew_Marin), Facebook (AndrewMarin01), and Instagram (@andrewmarin1).

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Luke 6:32 NLT “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that!”

Real compassion is to act without such concerns when ministering to those who are our enemies. Why?

Any step to demonstrate how our giving, lending and loving is credible can not be based on any form of reciprocation, not based on expectations, and especially not based on getting any much deserved credit with thankful recognition.

Otherwise, our enemies will cast out against us their accusations of a ‘hidden’ agenda. We need to empty our expectations, our need to feel good and appreciated from them. There should be no hope for any sort of civil acknowledgement when dealing with our enemies.

I don’t believe we can do such a thing within our own strength. It takes prayer, fellowship, preparation and strong faith to affix our deepest concerns and inward-hope on the Most High who’s in heaven and let compassion take its own course in the matter.

Luke 6:32-36 NLT “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! [33] And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! [34] And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. [35] Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. [36] You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

These instructions are counter-intuitive. In fact, it’s instantly off the chart bordering on insanity. Crazy or not, that’s the pattern provided to those who claim Christ as their source for eternal mercy, love and compassion.

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